Six Napa Reds from $20 to $99

From $19 to $99/bottle,
and each of them worth every penny.

TWENTY ROWS Merlot, Napa Valley 2007 $19
Twenty Rows is the second label for artisan Napa producer Vinoce. The focus for Twenty Rows is delicious wine that happens to be affordable. Well, here you have it: a rich, strong, velvety Napa Merlot with more oomph thatnany under $20 Merlot I've had before. Red and black fruit flavors, cocoa, toasty barrel and tannins you can feel.

MICHAEL AUSTIN "Bad Habit-Priest Ranch"
Napa Valley 2005, $31
"Priest Ranch" lies in the eastern reaches of Napa Country in the rugged, mountainous terrain eight miles east of the Valley floor. This is a very intriguing and delicious single-vineyard blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache. Very spicy: black pepper, anise and Indian spices. Intense briary fruit flavors as well as hard raspberry and strawberrycandies. Grip of tannins at the end make it evident that this is mountain wine.

PHAEDRUS Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2005, $40
Long-time Back Room customers may recognize Phaedrus as we've made many friends with their previous vintage Cab and Cab Franc. We're happy to say that the 2005 Phaedrus continues their series of outstanding Cabernet for a relative value. Taste black cherries, soy sauce and bacon. Not very tannic-it's ready to drink now. Phaedrus is the second label for Wolf Family Vineyards (Phaedrus means wolf in Latin). Their benchland vineyard is at the base of the Mayacamas Range, a little too far north to be officially part of The Rutherford Bench. We've been into dicing eggplant and roasting it with garlic and whole crimini mushrooms (then making a simple pasta sauce or topping roast chicken with it). This is the perfect Cabernet to have with such a dish. The smoky/earthy edge to the Cab makes it a fine match.

LAGIER MEREDITH Syrah
Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley 2004 $50
All Estate Syrah from Carole Meredith and Steve Lagier's Mt. Veeder vineyard. A little bottle age serves this well. Blue & black fruits, lavender, black pepper, bacon, black olive. This silky, opulent Syrah is at its drinking peak. California meets Hermitage in this rich, round, provocative Syrah. We carried this wine back in 2007, and were happy to find out Lagier Meredith had a little more tucked away, and were willing to sell it. What luck!

SWITCHBACK RIDGE Petite Sirah

"Peterson Family Vineyard"
Napa Valley 2005, $80
The most highly acclaimed Switchback Ridge of their 2005s. Ridiculously big yet balanced, albeit precariously. These are notes from a customer in New York who just imbibed and sent me his tasting notes:
"When I visit my folks place my mother will often times make eggs and sausage in the morning. This wine reminded me of the taste I get of those sausage links after they've been cooked in the cast iron skillet. Concentrated, heavy fruit and blackberry with hints of lead, braised beef and black licorice. Tastes like the color purple with hints of violet flower and rose petals. Opened nicely into heavily extracted, thicky thick juicy juice. 16.4% alcohol."

BEAU VIGNE Cabernet Sauvignon
"Reserve" Napa Valley 2006 $99

You might know that the December Wine Advocate gave Beau Vigne exceptional, much-deserved reviews. Good thing I've been a Beau Vigne supporter the past couple of years so I get a nice supply. Beau Vigne Vineyard is at the top of Atlas Peak, overlooking the town of Napa. Dave Phinney of Orin Swift Cellars is their winemaker.
BEAU VIGNE "Reserve" Cabernet 2006 is extremely showy, expansive, rich and jam-packed full of dense, dark berry flavors. This 100% Cabernet holds nothing back from the first whiff to the end of its 40 second finish. Super-concentrated, expansive mid and back palate, dizzying amount of flavor, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon doesn't seem as oaky as the "Juliet," nor as tannic, due to the incredible concentration of fruit.